Tell you all they are at there grinding

And I know they ain't about that action

I'm telling you I'm gonna ride 'em

They probably try to come in the hood and sell weed

Think it's all good until they run into some real G's

Holla tell us where it is

And I promise we'll leave

Hesitate to saying boy them lamma well squeeze

Please pay attention to this part of the bull

One time got robbed got shot got shooked

They ain't really getting bricks

It's official man you ain't shit

TELL 'EM I SAID THAT!

~ T.I

Tell ‘Em I Said That

The scent of finely crafted Cubans and the sweet serene of old school R&B set the scene. The finest brandy was poured into everyone’s cups; some of the cities most beautiful women seat at one corner of the room playing their own game of cards and easy conversation. The perfect appearance of a causal game night, yet the atmosphere was the polar opposite.

Everyone was walking on pins and needles to not set one person off in the room…Armani.

Despite the cool façade that he was rocking now deep inside he was a ticking time bomb ready to explode at any moment.

His money, the pushers, and the middleman had all disappeared. The trap that the two pushers had held their operation had been wrapped clean.

No trace that anyone had been there and no trace of his money.

Vengeful and bloodthirsty the call was made and he was simply wanting for the answer that said they had them.

Patience wasn’t Armani fortitude. The wait was the part that was grinding at his nerves causing a cold fiery to ignite and consume him.

    .       .           .           .          

The messenger was always killed. Especially if the message was being deliver to Armani. No one knew what bag he would come out; he’ll both laugh and smile in your face or beating you within the inch of your life.

Armani was never the type to withhold his annoyance when it came to something detrimental that could directly or indirectly affect him.

And with all his power Malcolm tried to avoid being the one at the end of Armani’s angrier.

And the information that was burning in his pocket might be the straw that broke the camels back.

Stepping inside the room with the collective swagger that Malcolm was known for he greeted people subtly.

Armani caught his eye he gave a slight nod as he walked towards the other end of the room.

Standing quietly at the bar Malcolm pour him a glass of scotch watching the game take place.

“Fella’s take five,” he stood glass in hand with a Cuban in the other he moved towards Malcolm.

He took a last shot of his drink setting it down as he turned to his boss.

“So the Brain finally arrives what got you so uptight,” he slapped his shoulder with a little ash falling onto Malcolm’s suit.

Withholding the annoyance that he felt he spoke, “I got news on Jimmy and Eric.”

Armani attention was fully his.

Reaching inside of his pocket he pulls out the photos of the now decaying pushers and middleman bodies.  Armani took hold of the photos the bodies were unrecognized he was unsure due to the heavy deterioration of acid or natural decompose.

“What happen?”

“Eric and Jimmy were found in an abandon building five blocks from the trap and the middleman was found two blocks away. One of my informants down at the department has the coroner reports. Eric and Jimmy were killed hours early before the middleman got there and he was killed within the hour he delivered the money.”

“So you’re saying it was a fucking set up.”

Malcolm nods was the confirmation.

He looked at the photos and dejectedly threw them down on the bar. “Have some of the boys ask around and find out who was around that area on that day. More importantly find someone who saw the mothafucka that walked in that building and the car they were driving.”

 “Of course Armani.”

“I don’t have to tell you how critical this have to stay between us.”

Malcolm could hear the threat in his voice. He was no fool to believe that his position wasn’t expandable especially with a dangerous man like Armani.

You were never safe when it came down to him.

He nodded once again and went to follow his order.

The news was unsettling if word got around to Underwood that he was secretly getting money from another territory that broke all the codes of the agreement between the five families. He was fucked. And that said territory belonging to James Wong the fucking Devil.

Devil, he couldn’t help to chuckle a bitter smile at such a preposterous name to an uptight bastard.

The hype that played around him was nothing. And he couldn’t understand why everyone was so afraid of him.

It’s not as if James knew that he was getting money from under the table from him. He was the type of man that thought too much of himself and the reputation he had. That it was easy for Armani to have such a successful operation.

Everyone knew that both men hated the other and if they could start a war with the other they would.

And knowing the smartass mothafucka he would go to war with him. If it was another time he would so openly go to war with him.

But not now he had bigger and grander plans to start before such pleasurable expedition of going to war with the Devil.

He needed to know who knew this secret and he needed to silence them before they ran their mouth to the wrong people.

He moved away from the bar towards his abandon seat. His movements could be comparing to that of a lion stalking its prey.

Everyone within their power tried to stay away from him…and then there was one.

Jerome Washington was one of Armani’s captains who were massive in appearance and with a brain the size of a baseball.

He took more of the blunt of Armani’s wrath then the others, because of his bad timing to do something foolish.

And right now was one of those moments.

The clicking of his phone as he text ringed throughout the room. Emotions unstable and aggravated by the news he just received his eyed the assailant who was reckless to irritate him at this time.

Armani frown as he kept his gaze on him. This little action didn’t go unnoticed by those in the room as they with tensed stares awaited for the explosion.

“Was your fucking message important?” his voice was steady.

Jerome turned his eyes towards Armani who held the stare of a king cobra ready to strike.

“M-m-my bad Armani,” his words betraying his emotions.

“Jerome you’re stuttering,” he replies with a thunderous laugh. Unsure to keep silent or laugh along to keep him humored; everyone in the room begins to laugh along side Jerome.

“I’m just fucking with you Jerome,” he said as he moved to refill his drink.

Jerome had silently exhaled the tension that seized him just a few minutes ago already had brought on a sweat.

Before he could reassure himself that he was okay a stinging pain shot through his head the sound of glass shattering and the feel of liquid splashing over him. With the thumbing pain on the top of his head to the burning sensation of the liquid that was burning his eyes.

Before he comprehends the pain that was being inflicted on him he could feel a vice grip on the back of his neck and being slammed against the table in a repeated fashion.

The screams from the spectators was muted by the inhuman yells from his attacker.

Armani within his power was slamming the bastard’s head so hard that he wanted to implant in the fuckers head about his idiotic behavior.

The blood that gushes didn’t stop him from making the split becoming wide.

 With the final slam he let go of the bastards neck watching as his body tremble out the chair to the ground.

 He moved and gave his to deadly kicks to the unconscious bastard’s body.

“YOU FUCKING TEXTING WHEN SOMEONE STOLE MY FUCKING MONEY! “ his face was scrunched as spit came from his mouth as he yells the vain on the side of his neck became visible.

He turned heated eyes towards everyone his chest rising heavily as making a clear message.

The sound of Jerome’s phone went off moving towards the table he grabbed it. It was a text from his wife.

“You’ve got a message.”

.           .           .           .          

His eyes were on her. She was so misplaced in the garden of over sexualize women that held the embodiment of shoddiness and the glowing iris of spite.

Yet, she glowed the brightest out of all the forbidden fruit and he couldn’t help but to despise and regard her even more.

They were dining with the other heads of the Chinese family. He seats with his respected others, while she seat at the table with the other mistresses to these powerful men.

The eldest out of them, Xiong, was the only one who noticed that the always unapproachable and silent boss kept his eyes on his mistress throughout the course of dinner.

The look in the young mans eyes was something that he like so many men had held when the object of their affection was withholding something.

In his sick humor it brought him much amusement as he thought what would his old friend think about his son if he we’re alive.

James sips his coffee when he caught on a statement from one of the heads that was seated to his left.

“Police found three bodies yesterday two bodies five blocks and the other two blocks away from each other.”

“I know the two you speak, Jimmy Huang and Eric Xu. Very reckless and flashy those two were. I’m not surprise that they’ve been clipped,” replied Boss Sun.

“I wish I had made the call,” the men laughed

“Word around the street those two were working for someone from one of the other families.”

“No one would be stupid and try to make another war.”

“Everyone has to much to loose, especially with the Councils ever plotting eyes on our territory.”

“There is always a brave and foolish one that tries to disrupt the peace,” spoke Xiong everyone became quite.

James stared at the man whose eyes were on his.

“Especially if they’re the ones who have nothing to loose.”

The conversation turned light amongst them, while James became more withdrawn into his thoughts.

His message had been made clear and from what his informant told him Armani was more fearful and aggressive.

In his twisted fearful mind Armani knew James was responsible of the hit of his three men and took his money. He was worry that James might make this known to Underwood and the other bosses that sign the treaty.

He just needed conformation from him to prove that he was behind it.

And even if he did confirmed it, Armani knew that he couldn’t retaliate, for that would mean that he was taken accountability for his actions and also meaning that James had a right to go with war with him.

James took a sip of his coffee the mental warfare was way much better than actual warfare.

The knowledge that at this minute Armani was somewhere shitting bricks brought so much wicked amusement to him.

As the night had progressed long enough for the men to finish all business and prepare for the real excitement to begun. Bidding their farewells they gather their coats and women with the anticipation for the night ahead.

James was helping Jacqueline into the raccoon fur trimmed hood and cuff half sleeve rabbit fur coat.

He felt someone’s clasp his shoulder turning around he was greeted with the familiar face of Xiong.

“James,” he said in a strong soothing voice that belong to a grandfather than a organize boss.

“Xiong,” he bowed respectively

“A word.”

He nodded his head as he turned to Ace with a slight signal. Jacqueline understood the signal with a bow of her head towards the older man she moved away with Ace beside her.

James turned his full attention back on Xiong who stared at him with a twisted amusement that he was infamously known for.

“Such a clear message you made.”

“I don’t understand your meaning Xiong,”

The older men chuckle softly as he looked at the young man before him “It’s better to finish off your enemy now, for they will never forget an insult.”

James smirk, there was nothing go pass this bastard it was the many reasons that he is well respected.

“Wise words as always Xiong, but all the cards are in my hands.”

Xiong nodded as his eyes were directed towards something behind James. He turned to see that he was staring at Jacqueline who was having small conversation with Sun’s mistress.

He turned his eyes back to Xiong.

“Putting down ones guard does not always mean weakness,” were the last words that Xiong spoke as he walked away from James.

He watched as the older man walked towards Jacqueline. He watched their interaction a smile had appeared on her face with a soft laugh come to her lips as the old boss walked away.

James walked over towards them holding out his arm for Jacqueline. He could see that the smile she held became less brilliant.

He knew that she was still annoyed with him and she was only taking his arm just for the show of it. And to be truthful he could careless.

.           .           .           .           .

Her life before James wasn’t filled with expensive gifts and spending lazy days inside a house. Yes, she was a daughter to a known figure in the underworld, but she didn’t have such deep ties with it.

Her life wasn’t perfection, but hell it was her life. She had a job that she loved, a few friends that she hangs with, and she was free to do her.

He had taken her freedom away as well as he virtue and she felt that he should tell her anything she asks of.

After all he owe her that.

It wasn’t as if she was asking him to bare his soul to her. She simply wanted to know the man that she was living slash sleeping with.

James held this unapproachable aura that seem indestructible. She figured that he didn’t want anyone to be close to him.

Making her wonder who or what was the cause that made him this cold being. After all not everyone was born feeling unemotional like him. There was always a story behind such behavior and James seems to have the perfect backstory.

He was filled with mysteries that made him so fascinating to her. There were so many questions she wanted to be answered that she knew he wouldn’t answer.

And that was the annoying thing about him.

She couldn’t go to Ace; he was far too loyal to James to reveal any of James truth to her. Her only source was James to ever lasting annoyance for she was stuck back to square one.

And since they weren’t speaking to each other lately except when they went out there wasn’t really anything going on with them.

Jacqueline had thought that Roxanne spoke to James about there little run in. But Ace had reassured her that Roxanne wouldn’t speak to him about anything.

To Jacqueline amusement little-miss-know-your-place didn’t really run anything when it concern James. She was treated with the same coldness like everyone else or even worst.

Another question that Jacqueline wanted to bring up to James. His relationship with Roxanne couldn’t be built on any emotional connection.

How they acted it was more of a relationship for convinces than love.

So since their was no one to talk too naturally she would call her cousin; especially telling her the little disagreement with Roxanne.

 “I would’ve showed that heifa to the left with my foot straight up in her ass.”

Jacqueline laughed grabbing a handful of M&M’s peanuts from the bowl.

“I got her ass back,”

“I hope with a slap to her face, disrespectful ass chick.”

“I told her the next gift James give me I’ll tell him to give it to her.”

“Hum, I guess she know how he feels about her.”

“Oh she knows, disrespectful bitch,” popping a blue M&M in her mouth. In the distant she could hear James coming down the stairs.

“Mo I’ll call you late on,”

“I’m guessing noisy ass James is coming down the stairs,” she reply nonchalant.

“Like always,”

“Okay, call me, love you Jack and be safe.”

“I will, love you too Mo, bye.”

The line was cut putting the phone on the coffee table she settled onto the couch with the bowl of M&M’s in her lap as she watched the program.

Within minutes James had appeared she kept her eyes on the screen determine to ignore him.

He settled on the couch next to her. He had just token a shower for the subtle scent of Old Spice was tantalizing. She could feel her inner core ting from the warm scent.

Crossing her legs over the other as she popped another M&M in her mouth.

She could feel his body heat radiating which manifested an image of his skin brushing against hers.

This action caused her to become even more arouse. Scooting a littler further to make a space between them.

It was annoying how his little actions as seating could make her want to melt. While he just seem unaffected and that was the annoying part of the whole ordeal.

She went to grab another M&M when her hand brushed against warm smooth skin. Looking down his hand was grabbing a handful of candy.

She turned to look at him as if he had gone mental. Neither did he ask to eat any of her candy nor did she give him permission to do so.

Knowing him this was his way to make her drop her vow of silence and speak to him. Will she wasn’t going to fall for it even if the bastard was eating her damn candy.

Popping another candy in her mouth as she pulled her eyes back to the screen.

The subtle chiming caught her attention. Staring down at the bowl that laid in her lap a yellow M&M was being thrown back in the bowl with a brown, green, and orange following behind.

Glancing over her shoulder she could see James picking out the other candy while keeping the blue and red M&M’s.

She watched him for sometime especially when he grabbed another handful of candy and once again discarding the rest, but only keeping the red and blue.

Her curiosity was the reason to break her vow of silence and stance to ignore him.

“I didn’t know you had preference for red and blue M&M’s.”

He was silent for a while before he spoke “I prefer the blue ones…my brother preferred the red ones.”

It was silent between them as Jacqueline tried to comprehend what James just told her.

He had a brother?

It was weird to say the least-to know that James wasn’t some being that pop out of thin air, but that he had family.

It was weird to and yet…she felt a bubbly feeling of excitement that he had just open up to her about something personal about him.

She looked at him as he popped one of the red in his mouth.

“My father would take us down to Washington Pier we would go on the rides, play some of the games, and eat at the docks. Afterward we would share a bag of Peanut M&M’s, my brother he would only want the red and I would want the blue giving the rest to my father.”

Her curiosity was burning with more questions about his family. And even though she wanted to ask him she didn’t.

It was obvious to her that it took everything in him to tell her this little piece of information about himself to her.

She couldn’t help but respect that and so she didn’t bother to ask him any more questions. When he was ready he’ll tell her, until then she could hold this little information dear to her.

He noticed her shifting closer to him and how she slyly moved the red and blue M&M’s to one side for him to grab.

Taking the chance he maneuver his arm across her bringing her closer. She didn’t throw up any sign of complaint.

And for the first time it was peace between them…and it was nice.

.           .           .           .           .

The Penthouse was one of finest gentlemen club in the city. It was place where men of all walks of life could rub shoulder to shoulders with and enjoy the erotic sight of women without the judgmental stares of everyday life.

It was a place of relaxation and a cheap form of therapy for those to proud to go in their regular life.

Armani seat back as he enjoy the sight of one of the dancers exhibit her magnificent ability of flexibility on the pole.

He watched with the thought of seeing his girl Lisa tonight. How he was feeling these past weeks a good blowjob from her could lessen the tension.

He threw a several hundreds at the dancer before settling back into his seat. Reaching in his inner pockets he pulled out a Cuban lightening it up he seat back.

The smoky hew made the scene even more exotic as the music turned to “Pour Up” and the girls started the routine.

A grin pulled to one side of his lips as he watched gleefully at the sight before him. His attention was fully engaged at scene before him.

“Excuse me sir,” came a voice beside him.

Armani turned to see a petite brunette in a lace cat suit. She held a tray of a bottle of Chandon Dom Perigno White Gold.

“This on the house baby?” he said with a grin that widen.

The brunette laughed setting the tray down in front of him, “A friend of yours bought the bottle.”

“A friend?” now he was perplexed as he looked down at the tray.

There was a sense of trepidation that rose within him causing his sensory to be subdued. He felt as if the world had stopped in one moment except for him. The sight before him was filled with dread.

Lying openly was a crimson card.

A calling cards…his calling card.

And deliberate shot towards him.

His eyes moved away from the card to search around the room until his eyes were in contact with its target.

There in all of his arrogance stood James with a smirk on his face. They stared at each other for some time till James tilted his head towards Armani then he left his spot.

Armani seat there for sometime he could feel his blood run cold and the anger that’s been consuming him slowly blinded him.

Within minutes he pushed himself from out the seat-pushing pass the brunette roughly as he quickly left with the intention to now deliberate.

James was calling him out.

And it was time to bring Underwood into this before all hell broke loose.

.           .           .           .           .

There was a question that had been lingering for a while in his mind. It was more of a suspicion that seems to bother him for sometime and he was going to test it out. He figured that his assumption might turn out true, but testing it out never hurt.

She was in the kitchen cleaning, he had subtle allowed her to start cleaning up, and to his surprise she kept the house in the order that he like.

Her back was towards him as she scribes the counter moving behind r he wrapped his arms around her as he slowly nuzzled her neck.

It had been a long time since he buried himself inside her and the scene at the gentlemen club made him so aroused that he swear he was going to have blue-balls.

“I have something I want you to wear tonight,” he said as he bites her ear playfully. Placing a rectangle Tiffany box in front of her Jacqueline looked at it.

“Open it,” he said holding her closer to him.

She rolled her eyes as she did what he asked. Opening the box lay a multi-strand gold and diamond necklace.

The diamonds were set in gold ovals, while the center strand were of elongated oval gold beads.

“You want me to wear this tonight?” knowing all to well what he was hinting at.

“In my room in one hour,” he placed a kiss on the back of her neck with a slap to her but.

She grabbed the necklace and headed towards her room to get ready totally forgetting about scrubbing the counter.

.           .           .           .

The image before him was like the Birth of Venus, yet she was way more attainable and ethereal. She was something that was to be possessed and kneel surrounded by her glory.

Her mouth was warm and inviting the sweet intoxicating nectar that spill from her lips on to his.

The sensation of being within this woman burying himself deeper within her to the point that he wanted to loose himself within her and become one.

The honeyed sound that was made from their bodies as they moved against each other with the awareness of the power that both had over the other.

With an epic climax as colors and sounds merged leaving them in a haze of confusion and bliss.

Hours of their recovery pass she was tucked perfectly beside him. His hand caressing small circles over her back as they lay there silently.

Their only source of light came only from the window. It was peaceful and silent.

“I always wanted a sibling,” her soft comment interrupted the silence, and yet it wasn’t unwelcome.

“Someone who I could have fun with…look after and protect…mostly someone to have my back when it came down to Katherine. Especially, after my father’s passing…I think that’s when she became worst.”

He listen quietly all the while thinking that he should have killed that bitch instead of letting her go.

“I shouldn’t complain though. Her being the person that she is taught me not to be like her. Plus I have my cousin; she’s more of a sibling that I never had. ”

She had reveal something personal about herself to him without him asking or demanding her.

It was natural.

Wasn’t pillow talk something that most couples partake in after sex?

They weren’t in love with each other, but they were in some type of relationship. There should be some sort of understanding between.

He held her closer to him breathing in her scent as he watched the woman in his arms sleep peacefully in his arms.

Brushing a kiss on top of her head he spoke silently and before slumber could take her in its embrace.

She had a weird feeling that James had said, “I got your back.”